Teso Wants Cassava Processing Factory to Manufacture Sanitizer

The leaders of Teso sub region have demanded that the NRM government constructs a cassava processing factory to manufacture sanitizer.

State minister for Disaster Preparedness who also doubles as the MP for Amuria County, Musa Ecweru said that there is need for NRM government to construct more factories in Teso. Ecweru appealed to Capt Mike Mukula, who sits in the NRM top decision making organ-CEC to advance Teso’s need for cassava factory to produce ethanol which can be used as sanitizer. Sanitizer has become a lucrative item since the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic early last year.

Mukula was in the districts of Amuria and Kapelebyong in Teso sub region canvassing votes for President Yoweri Museveni and other NRM flag bearers.

“I appreciate the government for giving us a fruit factory in Teso, but I am requesting you [Capt Mukula] to remind the President about our memorandum that was read to him recently when he was in Teso that we need a factory that processes our cassava to make ethanol,” Ecweru said.

In his response, Mukula pledged to follow up the matter urgently with President Museveni during their weekly CEC meetings. He added that the NRM Manifesto that is over 260 pages has focused on industrialization to uplift commercial production. Mukula assured the people of Amuria that the NRM government is ready to jealously protect them and their property and that no insurgency will ever break out again in Teso under the leadership of President Museveni.

“Nobody will cause trouble in Teso again. No plan B will work again. Karamoja was at one time very unruly; not even Kizza Besigye could campaign there. Those guys [Karamojongs] were ruthless and armed to the teeth. They killed Iteso and raided their animals. But now Museveni has brought peace and stability. Teso is now peaceful,” Mukula said.

He blasted opposition presidential candidates especially ANT’s Henry Tumukunde who while campaigning in Teso promised to give Karamojong guns to guard their animals. “It is absurd that Gen Tumukunde went to campaign in Karamoja recently and he assured Karamojongs how he will rearm them to protect their cattle. It is ridiculous and senseless to give Karamojong guns because we saw them use the guns against Iteso,” Mukula said.

In 2003, it was Mukula who presented a motion for the resolution of Parliament to allow government disarm Karamojongs. It was also the efforts of Mukula and Ecweru who took up 10,000 guns from government to form Arrow Boys Militia who fought and defeated Joseph Kony and his Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) rebel group.

The biggest casualties of LRA and Karamojong attacks were the people of Amuria district. Their bloody history is the reason they have promised to continue voting for the NRM government. In Amuria and Kapelebyong, Mukula also officially received new converts from NUP and UPC who pledged total commitment to the NRM party for its fundamental achievements.